Union Station cleanup begins

Business

July 7, 2006

By Joyce M. Miles / milesj@gnnewspaper.com The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Fri Jul 07, 2006, 12:47 AM EDT

“The renovation has begun.”

So declared Alex Muscarella on Thursday as family and friends of his son-in-law, new Union Station owner Mark Davidson, began cleanup of the long-deserted property.

Davidson, a California craftsman, is in town for a couple of weeks visiting family. While he’s here, he decided it was time to start tackling the tall grass, weeds and trees that mask the still-beautiful shell of Lockport’s old passenger rail depot.

“We’re going to get it cleaned up and looking nice,” Davidson said.

“And spur some interest in the community,” Muscarella added.

Davidson purchased the station from former owner Brian Yaiser and the Union Station Development Corporation this past April. He’d been eyeing it for more than a decade, on regular visits to the area where his wife Michele grew up, and decided to pick up where others have left off trying to restore a local landmark that captures imagination.

“I’ve gotten so many calls since the story about the purchase,” Davidson said, referencing the April story in the Union-Sun & Journal. “People are really into this.”

One of those calls was from a woman down the street — in California — who grew up in Lockport and told Davidson a story about her grandfather working at Union Station.

“The response to the idea that we can restore this place is amazing,” he said. “People who drive by are stopping to tell me they’re excited. The neighbors here — Groff’s and the new (lube) shop at the corner — have been very supportive.”

On Day 1 of renovation, Davidson-Muscarella family and friends got the high lawn that faces Washburn Street mowed and made a fair dent in the wall of weeds lining the chain link fence around the station. Trees need to be removed and a lot of brush cleared, but Davidson said he’s intent on achieving visible results by the time he goes home July 19. Michele and their children will be staying on a while longer.

“I’ve had a lot of people offer their help,” he said. “All I can say is thank you. Bring your boots and come over. We’ll be here.”

Once the property is cleaned up, it’s still going to sit a while before structural repairs get under way, according to Davidson. He’s getting involved in the grant search to fund restoration and has made contact with U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer’s office, which offered assistance if Davidson comes up with a solid plan, a Schumer spokesman said Thursday.

Michele Davidson has established a new Union Station Web site, www.nytrainstationrenovation.com, for information exchanges with people interested in renovation.

Ultimately, Davidson said, he’d like to bring back the station as part live-depot, part restaurant or coffee house and, maybe, part rail memorabilia museum.

Medina Railroad Museum, which is eyeing purchase of the old Dussault Foundry property, has somewhat similar designs on 2 Washburn St. — Union Station’s neighbor to the north, on the other side of the railroad tracks.

Contact Joyce Miles at 439-9222, Ext. 6245.

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